Saturday, April 23, 2011

Kitchen Renovation: The Reveal.

Well, minus one piece of stainless steel (I'll explain that later), it is done.

We started with this:

And ended up with this:

Took this:

To this:

A few other shots:

Above you can see the structural changes we did - there was a wall where the large island is now. Also you can see that we took the header between the two rooms of the kitchen and raised it about 6 inches and took the sides of the "doorway" between the two rooms completely away.

The view from the other side - this shows the contrast between what we've done (the kitchen) and what we are going to do (the den). Where the back door is now, there will be a window and corner banquette seating. The windows to the left will be french doors. The nasty paneling will be taken down, the den dry-walled and painted the same color as the kitchen, and the trim painted white to match the kitchen.

My pantry door, painted with chalkboard paint. We use it to make our "menu" for the week.

Our contractor custom built an end bookshelf for all of our cooking magazines and books. The sideboard in the background is from an estate sale (a birthday gift) and the art above it is from etsy - seller Erin's Modern Art.

I love my counters and sink - I love how it is "seamless" between the two.

Another angle of the room, standing at the current back door - you can see our new island, where the den wall was - you can see the contrast between the "old" (den) and "new" (kitchen).

Oh yes - that one piece of stainless that stands between us and a finished kitchen is right here, on the side of the stove. We bought a slide in for a different arrangement of the kitchen, so we had to improvise. I love the subway tile going to the ceiling here, love the range hood, love the brackets on the microwave shelf our contractor built for us.

I had a major trip to IKEA and got some accessories for the kitchen, including these bars and hanging dealies. I would like to grow herbs inside them but need to figure out the logistics.

Another IKEA purchase, spice jars on a magnetic strip. Also from IKEA, the baskets under the sideboard, which fit perfectly.

And just for fun, one last look at the kitchen as it was when we moved in (with Jake walking through the night it became ours):

It seems that looking at photos of "new" kitchens I like as a whole, there are always things that I wouldn't have chosen. But this?? Perfection. From the subtle contrast of the cabinets and backsplash to that (SQUEAL!) checkerboard floor. Not too modern, not too traditional.....sigh....

Bridget - the island drawers have our serving pieces and our pyrex, plus cutting boards. We got a lot of serving dishes for our wedding and before they were cooped in the attic. Now they are accessible. I'm sort of majorly obsessed with our drawers.

Renae - the subway tile is just plain-ole-subway tile from Home Depot with a dark grey grout. The contractor picked out the grout color so I don't know the specific color but in person it is a charcoal color. I feel like that really makes the subway tile a little more expensive looking:)

My kitchen is set up almost exactly as yours was. You have done everything I want to do to my kitchen, down to the yellow checkerboard on a diagonal and glass front cabinets. It's like you're in my mind. Love it!

Kristan - sorry I'm in your mind:) but you know, good minds do think alike! I really recommend the checkerboard going on a diagonal. It looks super cheap otherwise. I am sure your kitchen will look awesome!

LOVE LOVE your floor! Turned out amazing...I was wondering, is there a gap from the base boards? I wouldlove to pull up our yucky carpet and do this to our floor! It did have hardwood but previous owners pulled it up! Soooo, left with a slab...Great tut too! Very well described! Will keep you posted if I get *brave* (ie:ambitious) enough to try it.